Different Breeds Doing Dressage
No one called me on it, but I'm feeling guilty about writing in my Ingrid Klimke clinic post that I'd rather spend my time and money doing dressage with a warm blood because they are better suited to doing it. What a stunned as me arse thing for me to say. You guys should have roasted me :) First of all, I caught the dressage bug as a teenager riding my beloved 14.2, pretty palomino, grade horse Trigger and taught him to do two tempi's in my back yard riding to the Beatles 'Hey Jude' (I was already 5'9"). Second, I re-caught the bug after not riding for 30 years on very drafty draft cross Savanah and I adore doing dressage with her. She is sooo precise, supple and smart and there's a long and unruly line of people who would love to have her. Third, I showed my Appaloosa Dan in Training Level two years ago and we had a blast. Who do I think I am saying I prefer spending my time with warm bloods? Obviously I didn't think that statement through and it isn't true. Every horse and rider can benefit from dressage. That's what I love about it.
It was my writing about a gorgeous Friesian stallion that prompted my comment. Truth be told, I don't think I have the talent to ride these beautiful horses. That's much closer to the truth! The woman who rode him, Erin MacQuarrie, is such a beautiful rider. She's a professional from New Brunswick and has one of the best reputations in Atlantic Canada and beyond as a teacher and trainer. Doing soft and balanced walk-canter-walk on small circles with a five year old stallion doesn't happen without great riding and a talented horse.
The clinic organizer Joanne Dustan is amazing. She had a very fair selection process that ended up with a variety of breeds and many amateur riders. For example the following were represented: Quarter Horse, Morgan, Arab cross, a Clyde/Saddlebred cross, Andalusian, Dutch warmblood, Friesian, Thoroughbred, etc. This is how it should be in my opinion.
To top it off, Ingrid was just awarded the highest equestrian sport accolade in Germany - the only person under 50 and the only woman to be named a German Riding Master. And we just had her here last weekend coaching our local riders and horses of all breeds.
Our dressage club R.I.D.E.R.S. (I co-chair) had a special class at our Labour Day show to showcase different breeds doing dressage. Unfortunately there was only one entry in the class, but she was great. She was riding a Quarter Horse and did a reining demo, after doing very well in her dressage class (I think she was reserve champion at Training Level). She and this horse do just about any equine activity or discipline you can mention, Western and English. Our shows have many breeds, it was just this class that didn't have a lot of entries (I think people want to concentrate on their tests more so than showcasing a breed). Our shows have Fjords, Canadians, Thoroughbreds, draft crosses, Friesians, Arabians, Quarter horses, ponies, Appaloosas, Paints, different varieties of warm bloods, Andalusians, etc.
I find myself very intrigued (here's my 'prejudice'?) by blogs written by people riding off the track thoroughbreds. I follow several and these horses and their owners amaze me. The intelligence, heart and talent they display and that can end up being discarded after only one small part of it is explored (racing) is striking. But this is a whole post on it's own.
I'm drawn to blogs by people who are doing dressage with different breeds and follow many of them. You can probably find several on my sidebar - Quarter Horses, Paints and Thoroughbreds to name some. These horses and riders are inspirational and put many warm bloods to shame. Their size is much better suited to many riders and careful selection to find the horse suited to your need results in many successful horse / rider combinations in many breeds. This is what makes it all so fascinating!
Yes, at my height a bigger horse is desirable, but a draft cross or an OTTT, to name two, are definitely options I'd think about if I needed another horse. Do you have any favorite breeds, for dressage or otherwise? If so, what do you like about them? Does color sway you? Does your preference change as your age changes? Etc.
Hmmm, just realized I'm segueing into a new topic :)
It was my writing about a gorgeous Friesian stallion that prompted my comment. Truth be told, I don't think I have the talent to ride these beautiful horses. That's much closer to the truth! The woman who rode him, Erin MacQuarrie, is such a beautiful rider. She's a professional from New Brunswick and has one of the best reputations in Atlantic Canada and beyond as a teacher and trainer. Doing soft and balanced walk-canter-walk on small circles with a five year old stallion doesn't happen without great riding and a talented horse.
The clinic organizer Joanne Dustan is amazing. She had a very fair selection process that ended up with a variety of breeds and many amateur riders. For example the following were represented: Quarter Horse, Morgan, Arab cross, a Clyde/Saddlebred cross, Andalusian, Dutch warmblood, Friesian, Thoroughbred, etc. This is how it should be in my opinion.
To top it off, Ingrid was just awarded the highest equestrian sport accolade in Germany - the only person under 50 and the only woman to be named a German Riding Master. And we just had her here last weekend coaching our local riders and horses of all breeds.
Our dressage club R.I.D.E.R.S. (I co-chair) had a special class at our Labour Day show to showcase different breeds doing dressage. Unfortunately there was only one entry in the class, but she was great. She was riding a Quarter Horse and did a reining demo, after doing very well in her dressage class (I think she was reserve champion at Training Level). She and this horse do just about any equine activity or discipline you can mention, Western and English. Our shows have many breeds, it was just this class that didn't have a lot of entries (I think people want to concentrate on their tests more so than showcasing a breed). Our shows have Fjords, Canadians, Thoroughbreds, draft crosses, Friesians, Arabians, Quarter horses, ponies, Appaloosas, Paints, different varieties of warm bloods, Andalusians, etc.
I find myself very intrigued (here's my 'prejudice'?) by blogs written by people riding off the track thoroughbreds. I follow several and these horses and their owners amaze me. The intelligence, heart and talent they display and that can end up being discarded after only one small part of it is explored (racing) is striking. But this is a whole post on it's own.
I'm drawn to blogs by people who are doing dressage with different breeds and follow many of them. You can probably find several on my sidebar - Quarter Horses, Paints and Thoroughbreds to name some. These horses and riders are inspirational and put many warm bloods to shame. Their size is much better suited to many riders and careful selection to find the horse suited to your need results in many successful horse / rider combinations in many breeds. This is what makes it all so fascinating!
Yes, at my height a bigger horse is desirable, but a draft cross or an OTTT, to name two, are definitely options I'd think about if I needed another horse. Do you have any favorite breeds, for dressage or otherwise? If so, what do you like about them? Does color sway you? Does your preference change as your age changes? Etc.
Hmmm, just realized I'm segueing into a new topic :)
Comments
Annette - wow. You had a Friesian. I remember you saying that. I wonder if you've ever done a post about him and I missed it? I love the Paint you ride now. His thoroughbred genes (he probably has them wouldn't you say?) show. Having that and a sound mind is perfect.
It was going to be opened with "My Percheron can do anything your Warmblood can do - but bigger!" hahaha!
I LOVE my Rosie (Percheron x Belgian) and we are currently schooling Training level - canter is our hang up - but having "learned" what I know about dressage on a big ole Dutch Warmblood called Karaat, who is really up hill I can definitely see why they are favorites aside from the TB guys.
I love seeing the diveristy of Dressage. Any horse can do it, all horses benefit from it.
I thought about giving you some ribbing - coming from the "ottb's are way under-appreciated as dressage horses" camp...
My understanding is that the prejudice for warmbloods as dressage mounts is shoulder / movement related... but often I see (famous) warmbloods who have big gait capability but lack purity in their gaits... ie - opposing legs in the extended (expensive) trot out way of synch - front leg extended very far out, not matching the reach of the hind leg - flashy but not correct.
All breeds benefit from dressage schooling. And if a thoroughbred jumps a clean grand prix round, no one takes away his prize :)
After all these years, I've seen too many people "cash in their 401ks" and buy a warmblood (usually) that they cannot ride (sometimes on the advice of the trainer who sees him/herself riding the horse instead).
I've watched too many of these over-horsed amateurs get injured, become afraid to ride anywhere without a fence to keep the horse contained *when* they get bucked off, and THEN complain because their horse, bored unto tears, becomes sour and even MORE unmanageable.
I LOVE OTTBs, would love to have a barn FULL of them. I also love QHs, the old style from back in the 1970s when they didn't travel like their necks hurt. I love ANY horse that will turn itself inside out to please its rider.
Any horse that is well trained and ridden by someone who is also well trained is beautiful. Breed notwithstanding.
One thing we all agree on - dressage is for every horse.
Dressage is like ballet to humans. Everyone can benefit. Remember in the 70's when it was a big deal for football players (maybe you don't remember - it was here - I should say American football players) to study ballet to help them with the game. My mom had me study ballet when I was young (3-12 years old) so that I could do other sports. It helped me with tennis and riding. Dressage is like that - it helps all horse breeds and riders of all disciplines learn balance and mental patience, I think.
Your ottb comments made my heart burst with pride! (my own prejudice!)
I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes for us. He's a particularly lazy horse and not one to pick up his feet. I don't know how we're going to manage piaffes!
Like Annette said, stop beating yourself up. We're all horse people and love our horses no matter what discipline we train them in. Some will excel and some...not so much.
I agree with all of the comments about basic dressage being good for all horses. :)
I think in order to win internationally the horse needs to have a specific kind of movement that only warmbloods have. But since most of us have no intention of competing internationally any breed of horse that is trainable will do. My dressage trainer says it has more to do with the mind of the horse than the movement.
Love your blog